This southern species is fairly pale in colour with white patches on the hindwings and a transparent spot on the forewing. Like other skippers it is fond of mudpuddling. It is fairly widespread but doesn’t often occur in abundance and recent declines means this species is listed as Near Threatened in Europe. Despite this it seemed to be fairly common in the Pyrenees where it was near the edge of its altitudinal limit.

Distribution: From N and E Spain eastwards, as far north as Slovakia but with a distinct population in W Germany. Absent from S Greece and Mediterranean islands.

Flight Period: May-July in 1 brood, sometimes seen in late summer in a second brood.

Habitat: Dry meadows, rocky grassland and scrub, stony gullies and hillsides up to 1800m.

Foodplants: Woundworts, such as Stiff Hedgenettle (Stachys recta), Field Woundwort (Stachys arvensis) and Downy Woundwort (Stachys germanica) and Stachys plumosa.

Nectar Sources: A wide range of small flowers. Also takes minerals from damp ground.

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